LastBite - decaf

Inspiration

The sheer amount of food wasted every day, while so many people struggle with hunger, is unacceptable. I was inspired to create a solution that could bridge this gap by connecting businesses with surplus food to individuals and organizations who can put it to good use, reducing waste and helping those in need. I also wanted to make it easier for consumers to find deals on food that would otherwise be thrown away.

What it does

LastBite is a platform that connects businesses with surplus food (restaurants, grocery stores, event organizers) to individuals and organizations who can utilize that food. Businesses can easily list their available surplus food items, specifying quantity, pickup time, and any relevant details. Individuals and organizations can then browse these listings and claim the food that meets their needs. LastBite also facilitates communication between the parties to coordinate pickup.

How we built it

We built LastBite using the Phoenix Framework in Elixir for the backend, leveraging its real-time capabilities with LiveView for a responsive user experience. We used PostgreSQL for our database to store information about businesses, users, food listings, and pickup arrangements. For the frontend, we used Tailwind CSS for styling and JavaScript for interactive elements. Authentication is handled with mix phx.gen.auth.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was ensuring the security and reliability of the platform, especially around user authentication and data privacy. Another issue was discrepancies encountered with prod and dev environments.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We're proud of creating a functional and user-friendly platform that addresses a real-world problem. We're especially proud of the real-time features, which make it easy for businesses and individuals to connect and coordinate food pickups. We're also proud of the clean and intuitive user interface, which makes the platform accessible to a wide range of users.

What we learned

We learned a lot about building real-time applications with Phoenix LiveView, including how to manage state, handle events, and optimize performance. We also gained experience with integrating third-party APIs, such as mapping services. Furthermore, we learned the importance of user-centric design and the challenges of building a secure and reliable platform. We also learned a lot about the complexities of food waste and the challenges of connecting supply and demand in this space.

What's next for LastBite

We plan to expand LastBite to include more features, such as:

Automated matching: Implementing an algorithm to automatically match businesses with surplus food to organizations in need based on location, food type, and other criteria. Integration with food banks and charities: Partnering with local food banks and charities to streamline the process of donating surplus food. Mobile app: Developing a mobile app for iOS and Android to make it even easier for users to access the platform on the go. Reporting and analytics: Providing businesses with data on their food waste reduction efforts to help them track their progress and identify areas for improvement. Community features: Adding features to foster a sense of community among users, such as forums and discussion groups. Payment processing: Allowing businesses to offer food at discounted prices and process payments through the platform.

Built With

• elixir
• fly.io
• javascript
• phoenix
• postgresql